Paterson explains why Spitzer’s sins are forgivable

My colleagues from New York NOW are down in New York City today, where they interviewed former-Gov. David Paterson about his support for Scott Stringer in his race for city comptroller against Eliot Spitzer, the man who picked Paterson to be lieutenant governor.

New York State Public Radio’s Karen DeWitt asked Paterson if he felt Spitzer, who resigned amid a prostitution scandal and prompted Paterson to replace him, deserved a second chance.

“Here’s how I look at life: in some states prostitution is legal,” Paterson said. “In some countries it is. In France, apparently, you’re not married unless you’ve got somebody else. They do it a different way. But if you steal money anywhere — whether it’s Las Vegas, New York, or France — people hate you. So what I’m saying is, people’s personal issues have not thwarted the public from supporting you. This happened to Eliot Spitzer this year. For a while, Anthony Weiner was number one in the polls. So my view is people can have a second chance when their problems are personal.”